Feds Turned Over Social Security Info

According to the New York Times, after September 11, 2001, the Social Security Administration "relaxed its privacy restriction"s and s"earched thousands of its files at the request of the F.B.I."

But this was apparently in violation of their privacy policy, which forbids the sharing of the personal information they disclosed. According to the Times, data "senior officials at the Social Security agency agreed to an "ad hoc" policy that authorized the release of information to the bureau" because officials saw a "life-threatening" emergency.

Don't you wish your business could decide to violate the law on an "ad hoc" basis?

Actually there is a serious point here. What if this were a private business, such as an airline, and they were asked to turn over information in violation of the law or their privacy policy? Are they liable if they do? Should they wait for a subpoena? Should they seek some kind of "permission" from the government? Could they be liable if they DON'T turn the the information over?

All interesting questions...